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Executive departure: David Leavy is returning to Warner Bros Discovery after a two-year stint at CNN as its chief operating officer. In a note to staffers, CNN chairman and CEO Mark Thompson said: “David arrived at CNN in tumultuous times and did a brilliant job stabilizing the company at a difficult moment.” Leavy’s direct reports will be split between Thompson and other CNN executives.
Also leaving the network is Haley Talbot, who will be joining Punchbowl News as the director of editorial video strategy. While at CNN, Talbot was a reporter and producer covering Capitol Hill.
NEWS about @PunchbowlNews
The great @haleytalbotcnn needs to change her X handle. Haley will be the director of editorial video strategy at @PunchbowlNews
We are SOOO psyched.
What’s this mean? A few things:
– the daily punch will be on YouTube
– we have a lot more… pic.twitter.com/Q9J7dmL2m0— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) May 27, 2025
CNN is also losing Brian Rokus, who is joining C-SPAN as a producer for Book TV, where he will produce special programming and series for the network’s dedicated audience of non-fiction book lovers. Rokus spent 25 years at CNN, most recently overseeing the evening newsgathering operation for its Washington, D.C. bureau.
In non-departure news, the network announced that Zachary Cohen is being promoted to senior reporter on the Pentagon team. Cohen previously served as a national security writer and reporter for CNN Politics.
Zachary Cohen has been promoted to CNN Senior Reporter. He will join the network’s Pentagon team and continue his top-tier reporting on national security. Congratulations, @ZcohenCNN! pic.twitter.com/VhC8PeInVs
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) May 29, 2025
Justice O’Donnell: NBC News is promoting Kelly O’Donnell to chief justice and national affairs correspondent. In this role, she will lead the network’s coverage of the Justice Department for all platforms. O’Donnell was previously the network’s senior White House correspondent.
Excited to build on my White House coverage and political reporting with this my new role at NBC News. Grateful for the chance to tell stories that reflect this important part of American life. https://t.co/7MMvu9txG9
— Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) May 28, 2025
New additions: MSNBC announced a pair of new hires with Keith Dilanian and Erielle Reshef joining the network in Washington, D.C. and New York City, respectively. Dilanian is MSNBC’s justice correspondent, while Reshef joins as a national correspondent and fill-in anchor. Dilanian joins MSNBC from NBC News, where he has been a justice and intelligence correspondent since 2023. Reshef was previously with ABC News as a national correspondent.
@msnbc.com is honored to welcome @kendilanian-nbc.bsky.social to the network as Justice Correspondent. He has covered the DOJ and national security issues for NBC News, the Associated Press, and the Los Angeles Times and will bring his reporting to platforms across MSNBC.
— MSNBC Public Relations (@msnbcpr.bsky.social) May 27, 2025 at 1:27 PM
@msnbc.com is honored to welcome Erielle Reshef as a National Correspondent and fill-in anchor. Reshef joins the network from ABC News where she has covered many of the most consequential breaking news stories domestically and abroad.
— MSNBC Public Relations (@msnbcpr.bsky.social) May 27, 2025 at 2:16 PM
NYC Bound: Fox Weather is welcoming Bayne Froney as its newest on-air meteorologist based at Fox Weather HQ in New York City. Froney was previously with the NBC-affiliate WLEX-TV in Lexington, Kentucky. “I’m looking forward to working with the talented group of meteorologists at Fox Weather,” Froney said.
